Resident Evil: Living Nightmares
Claire
Marvin carried Sherry into the room. Everyone looked up. "Where's Leon ...and Ada?" Claire added. She didn't like the woman AT ALL.
"They ehaded out to find you I think" Sarah said. She pointed at the other door. Claire ran to it and checked her gun. "Where are you going?"
"There's a big monster out there...like hell I'm going to find them" before anyone could protest the girl was out the door and down the hall. She raced along the echoing concrete hallway until she found Leon. He had a wound on his shoulder and was lying in a pool of blood. Claire gasped, trying to start breathing properly. She rushed to his side and immediately pulled her medical supplies out of the bag. Leon groaned and opened his eyes.
"Ada?"
"Pfft! Hardly" scoffed Claire.
"Claire" he smiled. "A woman...blonde...shot me" he grunted as Claire bandaged his shoulder firmly. "Ada went after her"
"It might have been Annette...damn - Sherry's mother...we found Sherry"
"Is she okay?"
Claire looked at her palms for a few moments - then she looked at Leon. "I think she's been infected by...something" so she told him everything. He swallowed.
"her father?"
"That's what Annette says"
"God" he shivered. "We have to do something..."
"We can get out of the city - and get her help" Claire shrugged. "Annette's probably got a cure, if we find her we find her we stand a chance". She swallowed and helped Leon up. "Coem on" they made their way back to the control room. Ada emerged from a corridor, tucking something back under her shirt.
"Where'd you go to?" Claire muttered.
"I tried to catch a scientist - get answers"
"Did you?"
"No she escaped" Ada said simply. Joshua was standing beside Sherry who wasstill unconscious. He looked up at their entrance. "I know" Joshua said. And only Claire and Leon understood - they didn't stop to wonder how he knew Sherry had been infected - just that he did and his look made it clear.
"We need to head out of the sewers" Marvin said. "Apparently it's an infection zone down here there's no safe way out - we're running low on ammo too."
Joshua cleared his throat and handed a small green book to Marvin. "I marked an entry - read it" he shuddered.
Damn it! That Umbrella Security Overseer is getting on my nerves - it's bad enough he keeps adjusting the water pressure to block the security door but he's gotten far crankier lately, ever since that rat bit him he's been sick and it's gross. I hear him coming now - sounds like he has a limp - almost as bad as that teenage girl with Umbrella clearance she just swept right in and said something about reviewing security of course that's a load of bull she's way too young probably just trying to slum it in the sewer plant for one time in her -
The page ended with a great deal of sticky blood. Marvin handed Claire the diary and she put it in her pack – its pages were sticking even.
"I found the body downstairs – it had been shot already – there was one over the desk…cockroaches got to that one first"
"Cockroaches?" Sarah shuddered. "Mutant ones?" Joshua nodded. "As if they weren't bad enough before…gross"
Joshua shrugged. "The water pressure must be the sewer entrance protocol. The Lab links up to some of the other facilities in the area – by rail car" he frowned for a moment. "You know…the labs were equipped with an escape train". Everyone looked at him. "It was sealed up but it could be used…we could get damning evidence on Umbrella as we pass through – then just cruise out on their train"
"What if it's already been taken?" Ada asked.
"Unlikely, I was at the lab when things went critical – someone had shut down the doors manually, the majority of the scientists were in the lobby – the escaped experiments got them…I saw it" he shrugged. "They were slaughtered. Zombies. Lickers. Weeds. Spawn."
"What are you talking about?" Leon murmured. Claire had been about to ask but the sickening feeling rising in her gut told her she already knew simply by the first two.
"The monsters in the lab" Joshua shrugged. "Most of them escaped out into the town." Claire nodded and walked over to a control panel. If they wanted to cure Sherry without Annette they needed to go to the labs. And if there was a way out there…then so be it.
"Okay let's see…yeah there's a water pressure valve blocking a nearby passage – if take that direction – it seems to lead into an Umbrella facility."
Leon loaded his shotgun. "Let's go" he nodded.
Leon
The water had gone from the sewers and the dead bodies now lay on damp ground with a sickening smell of death rising from them now. They were old – about a week they'd been there. Ada pstopped and kneeled down by two bodies in an alcove. "these are dry" she called.
Leon rushed over and climbed up into the alcove. Ada took an assault rifle and some clips, Leon took the other and it's clips then handed some flash grenades and explosive grenades to Claire. The young lady dispersed the ammo amongst the others. She pulled some blue herbs from a pot.
"Blue herbs – they're cure for natural poisons of every kind" she explained when Leon looked at her quizzically. Leon couldn't help but smile – she was a strange girl.
But he liked her.
He liked Ada too – she was gutsy and – alluring.
Pushing the thoughts aside to realign the layer of grit over his emotions here turned to focusing on the situation.
Sherry was unconscious in Joshua's arms still but she seemed to be slowly coming too as they walked towards the steel door build into a wall under a huge sewer pipe.
"Claire?" Sherry groaned.
"Sherry?" Claire sounded relieved and anxious – she hurried to the girl and took her hand. "Are you okay?"
Sherry struggled from Joshua's hold; the little girl straightened her hair out of her eyes. "Yeah…I just feel a little sick is all"
Ada raised an eyebrow but Leon knew she'd not jump to conclusions. Marvin examined the doors and then took out the key from his pocket. He pressed a button on it and a long jagged point slid out. He inserted it in the slot by the door and a red light turned green. The door hissed and opened.
Joshua checked his magnums and walked alongside Leon. "I don't remember a girl" Joshua said.
"Huh?" Leon had no idea what the boy was talking about, he'd simply said it in a quiet voice.
"The Sewer Manager's diary mentioned a girl with security pass. If that was ture I'd have heard about it one way or another…Dr Birkin didn't know she was there. And he knew everything that went on in there so…I don't know who she was". He was voicing concerns that leon easily understood, they descended a sloped stone hallway and finally reached a vast hall.
A red metal cable car stood at the ready. Marvin used his key on the control box to open the doors and start the motors. Leon felt relief as the motors purred and hummed – as they entered the car Leon realized they'd soon have left the Police Station behind.
He'd never gotten that party. The thought made him smile a little. Claire caught his eye and smiled back. She reloaded her Browning and put her sniper rifle back over her back. She had her short grenade launcher in her backpack – ready to draw but secure until then across the top.
"let's go" Leon said at last. Nodding Marvin inserted the key into the control box in the car and turned it. Lights flickered on and the car started to move. It juddered at first and the cables moaned…but then it finally made its way over the pitch black depths towards a distant rock face with dim lighting.
Ben gave a cry as he opened a cupboard. Inside was bottled water, crackers, protein bars, biscuits and vitamin pills. He started passing them out.
Leon drank the water, the old tingle ran down his throat and he didn't realize how thirst he was until that moment. He put the bottle back and took another from the large container they had. His bag was getting a bit heavier but there was still space in it.
The others stocked up on water and some food.
Then…the train gave a shudder. And something roared.
Ada
As far as missions went – this one was far from pleasant. The second the cable car gave a jolt Ada knew something bad was happening. The claw stabbed through the roof like it was tinfoil.
"Shit!" Ben shrieked as he dived down low. Claire urged the others to duck low. Leon, Ada, Claire and Joshua stood shoulder to shoulder in a square – pistols read.
The hand lashed down over Joshua but he'd moved a few critical seconds before, he turned around and fired into its wrist. The monster howled. Ada fired and hit its forearm.
The arm disappeared and punched down again. Claire fired and forced it to retreat. Joshua grabbed Leon and pulled him away as a claw penetrated the roof once again. Leon and Joshua fired once more. The younger man was bizarrely perceptive…
Ada steadied herself. The air was still and there was only the sense of time passing at a crawl. The claw slashed down again. Ada fired. Ben rolled aside as she stumbled from the claw's flailing, he stood up. Claire and Leon fired at the claw – it retreated again but almost immediately it stabbed back in.
Ada lunged forwards, the claw nicked her shoulder but failed to do major damage, still, it was a formidable nick. It extended from her shoulder to her shoulder blade. "Damn it" she cursed, the pain was throbbing but her adrenaline was decreasing its pointed sting with great efficiency.
The claw slashed back in – Ben screamed as it scored two long scrapes on his arm, tearing the skin ragged and letting blood stream down off his elbow, he fell, clutching it. Ada fired.
The shot shattered a claw.
With a high pitched shriek the monster left the roof of the car, its weight vanished and the car noticeably bounced back into its place. "Damn" whined Ben. "My arm is messed up now!"
"Stop whining – we have to make sure you aren't infected" Claire said. Everyone was hurt, Marvin had his injuries from the siege, Sarah had scratches from fying glass from shattered buildings and a nasty bruise thanks to a door bursting open with a zombie's body weight.
Leon had been shot in the shoulder but was recovering nicely. Claire had some bruises from the various escapes she had to make at the beginning and some splinters she'd removed earlier.
Ada had her scratches, Ben had his, Joshua was sporting large bruises from Mr. X on his torso and Sherry had some injuries from her fall in the sewers but nothing major.
Claire had become the Florence Nightingale of the situation.
Ada didn't like it.
But as Claire patched them up Ada realized that the girl was useful for first aid…which was important
The car gave a moan and a shriek as the old gears and cables were jolted – and then it stopped. They had reached the other side.
Joshua
The gang ran across the space of the cable car service floor to the door beyond. They passed through a zombie in overalls ambled forwards, it was missing it's face, a mess of pink, red and off-white mush surrounded its broken teeth. "Hasta la bye-bye ugly" Joshua muttered as he fired his right hand pistol into its head and blew open its skull, its brain formed a cushion as it fell back with a splat and a thud.
"This is the secret rail station - DAMN" the circular abyss plunged into darkness with a tiny speck of light far below the only sign of an end. "We have to recall it" Joshua groaned.
"Do you know how?" Leon asked.
"I need the key" Joshua raised his hand and caught it as Marvin tossed it. They ran to the ladder. "You guys get ready stand clear from the sides though the clamps will pop out so don't fall in." He loaded his weapons and slipped them into the cross holsters on the small of his back. "Let's go" he murmured. He climbed downwards until his feet touched a dark platform, lights clicked on with echoing clunk noises and he walked with Leon towards the door. It was just them.
Leon pushed open the door, a zombie shambled forwards, it was missing a hand…Leon blew it away with his shotgun and reloaded. Another one crawled forwards. Joshua walked forwards and pointed down, he fired and the undead woman slumped into death.
"Come on" Joshua said as they walked down the stone walled corridor with flickering lights. They reached the control room, three zombies had been eating each other – the smell of fresh meat was just too appealing – they turned to attack and got shot up without a trouble.
"Zombies are suddenly too easy" laughed Leon half-heartedly.
Joshua swallowed. "Well we'll be missing them if too many of the projects downside got out" his voice was hoarse with worry and regret – despite it all the labs and Raccoon City had been…a home. His remorse turned to rage. Umbrella did this and they would pay.
Joshua walked over to the computer and immediately started adjusting knobs and buttons. "Do you know what you're doing?" asked Leon quietly.
"I'm a straight A+ student –despite what people say- I can handle this if we reroute the power and demagnetize the localized rail systems of the inter-lab hub then I can enhance the escalating speed of the car. Thing is the labs in a bad way already, the generator blew one of its fuses on the floor we're going to"
"How deep is this place?"
"So deep you could get lost" whispered Joshua – then he smiled, wiping at his face as if peeling away a mask – or putting one on. "But you've got me and Sherry we grew up there!" he hit a code into the machine and turned the key in the slot. There was click and a light blinked on.
Something hissed in the distance, Leon flinched but it was a mechanical hiss – not a living (or to be slightly more accurate un-living) hiss. Then a groaning noise from below began to grow louder. "We're on the way" smiled Leon.
"Come on" Joshua said. They headed for the door – the nearby concrete wall exploded, foul sewer water splashed in around and between the massive feet of Mr. X. "How does this fucker know where we are?" he roared in frustration. He opened fire at the monster – his voice had taken on a strange echo but it was probably just him hearing his voice strangely. Mr. X raised his fists and swung at Joshua, the boy dived backwards and rolled so he could keep firing.
Leon fired both barrels into the monsters gut and it stumbled back. Leon pumped furiously and reloaded but the monster kept coming, they backed down the hallway – Joshua's magnums clicked empty. Leon tossed the boy his shotgun and Joshua fired as Leon used his single magnum to hold the monster at bay.
Joshua looked up. He stared at the valve handle then tossed the shotgun to Leon, reloaded his pistols and ran at the monster. Mr.X swung but with preternatural speed Joshua veered aside and used the monsters knee to boost upwards, he fired into its head and twisted in the air with bizarre flexibility, the monster shuddered as the bullets pounded into its thick skull.
Leon stared as Joshua performed a spinning kick as he touched the monsters shoulder with one foot. The valve handle clattered away and Leon raised his shotgun as thick green gas poured out. He fired as Joshua landed into a diving roll looking strangely paler and shivering fiercely.
The flames engulfed the Tyrant and it flailed blindly. It fell against a set of heavy glass doors coated with greenery.
Apparently it was a service elevator of some sort. The monster plunged through the bizarre mesh of vines and out of sight. "Wow – that was nice" Leon said. "How'd you do that?"
Joshua felt his joints burning and the urge to kill rising but as he breathed in and out and calmed himself it slowly subsided. He swallowed the taste of vomit and stood up. "No idea" responded Joshua. He shivered and rubbed his aching head.
He opened a container of pills and crunched two between his teeth.
"What's that?"
"Diphillathene Benzotride" he responded. "It's for a neurological condition I have I forgot to take some about 20 minutes ago I need to take it every hour or I get sick – and what use would I be anyway" he straightened up as the pills started to work.
He and Leon climbed the ladder again. "What was that?" Claire asked.
"Mr Anorak" responded Joshua.
They climbed into the train and Joshua turned the key in the control box. They sat into the space behind the driving room. "We'll go all the way down to the very bottom Laboratory floor then all we have to do is find the control room"
"Joshua?" Sherry groaned. "Wh-why are we going down there?"
"The escape train – it's our best chance of escape"
"Password's Nemesis…for computers" she whimpered. "My stomach hurts"
"It's okay" Claire said soothingly. Joshua turned away and closed his eyes, he'd never cried in his life but this was as close as he'd ever come. "You're going to be fine" she whispered.
Sarah
The train gave a jolt and Sarah stumbled forwards. Ben shrieked as a huge claw stabbed through the side wall and tried to grab Sherry. "He's after Sherry!" Leon shouted. "Get down!" Joshua grabbed his foster sister and pulled her to the ground with him.
The claw flailed and then pulled out. It stabbed in again and this time it caught Ada across the back but she shot at it as she fell. It recoiled. The train ground to a stop.
Sarah gasped in some breaths and grabbed the Magnum. Marvin reached into his explosives laden backpack and pulled out a the sub-machine gun. "We're not alone" he whispered.
"No shit Sherlock" snapped Joshua as he held Sherry down with his arm and only raised his head. "He's triggered the Biohazard sensor unless we get rid of him…we're stuck"
"Great" Claire growled. Sarah checked her Magnum and then her salvo of ammo. Enough she hoped.
"Marvin, you and me?" Claire suggested.
"Let's not turn down his invite to dance" Marvin grinned
"I'm in too" Sarah said firmly. "let's go" They pressed the button by the door and the hiss of the seal opening sent shivers up Sarah's spine. She stepped out with the others and they rounded the tram. The metal bar bounced off the floor and vanished off the side of the elevator. "Look who's here" Sarah breathed.
The part human creature stood with it's massive arm bulging atop the dark metal trap. It growled, blood and puss erruped from the pores of its body and it gave a distorted growl as it's arm bulged and the giant eyeball crossed onto it's chest. The face warped and it's eyes bulged. It's other arm sprouted claws and black flesh.
It leapt down, barely human anymore with sharp talons on its feet making sharp scraping noises as it landed. It roared with a vaguely human voice…spikes burst from its chest.
"Oh my god" gasped Sarah.
Claire blasted her rocket launcher, she reloaded and fired again. The flames rose swiftly on the monsters body but it shrugged them off and slashed out. Sarah shrieked and ducked as a bladed arm slashed the air. She fired off her magnum into it's knee and it buckled. Marvin fired a spurt of machine gun fire at it and the monster stumbled backwards.
"Damn it this thing's barely acknowledging the bullets" Marvin exclaimed. Sarah fired her magnum and gave Claire cover to duck a swipe from the monster and dive roll across the metal floor to join her, Marvin backed off, constantly firing until he had to reload.
Claire spun her launcher, clicked it open, reloaded and shut it to fire again all in one fluid motion. "This is like the water gun back home" she snarled as she fired furiously.
The monster roared in it's once-human voice losing more and more humanity. Claire fired her launcher but the monster slashed down, she dived aside but cried out as the talon of the monster scraped her side. Marvin fired a burst directly into the monsters face as if insulted it had touched Claire.
Claire Fired her launcher then slipped it back across her backpack and pulled her Colt S.A. The shots were powerful – Sarah leapt up and fired her Magnum, joining the blasts aimed at the monster's head, it staggered back, roaring – then tripped and fell down the shaft.
"It'll be back" murmured Claire.
"I wish that was false" Marvin said.
Sarah just nodded breathlessly. The doors opened and Leon, Joshua and Ada came out. "We're not moving" Ada commented.
"What is this? The Junior detective convention" snorted Joshua. "It looks like we got jammed somewhere along the way… we could crawl through a vent here onto another floor and use an elevator to descend"
Sarah didn't much like that idea – but hey when all options were closed…
Leon nodded. "Okay, let's go" he pointed at a vent. Ada hopped onto the metal bulkhead attached to the elevator rails. Sarah followed them. Ada climbed into a vent. Sherry watched and Sarah waved to the little girl who looked so pale. Ada pulled off a vent cover and climbed in. "Clear" she shouted back.
Leon went next and then Sarah pulled herself into the dark metal passage, she shuffled forwards on all fours…when Joshua cried out. The machinery had begun to whir and descend, he was still holding the vent when the elevator plunged downwards he was barely hanging on.
Sarah shrieked in panic and twisted as quickly as she could, she grabbed his arm. "Hold on! Hold on!" she exclaimed, she pulled him in with all her strength he took a few breaths. "Damn that wasn't fun" the boy gasped.
"Come on" Sarah said. "Ada and Leon are on the other side; we can meet with the others later". They proceeded into the dim green light beyond.
Leon
Ada was gone. Leon had slid out of the vent to find her missing. "Ada?" he called. "Ada!" Silence greeted his ears both reassuring and unnerving.
"Where's Jane Bond go?" Joshua asked as he dusted himself off. Sarah tugged on her RPD uniform to straighten it out.
"Good question" replied Leon quietly. "Where are we?"
Joshua looked around for a moment. "Smelting pit and chemical piping room Level 63B" he replied. "The master elevator seems to be down here…but we can turn the power on in the smelting room" he gestured at a large door.
"Looks like fun" Sarah shrugged. They entered the room. A man minus a head lay on the floor. The licker responsible was feasting on an armed guard. Sarah and Joshua fired at it and it died within seconds.
Leon kneeled down by the headless corpse and grimly pulled something out of its hands. "What's this?" he asked. "Epsilon Gas?"
Joshua looked at the crumpled papers that had been wrapped around a vial. "Well, well, well"
"It says Anti-BOW gas!" Sarah exclaimed.
Joshua laughed scornfully. "Read what it says" he muttered.
The Epsilon Gas – Anti-BOW gas
The Epsilon Gas can be pumped into any situation that requires quick extermination of BOW'S. However the gas has been found to have many minor flaws that must be corrected. For one, surviving T-Virus creatures may adapt and evolve from its asbestos-qualities. It has also been found to make plant and insect based T & G virus subjects grow and progress further and faster then any other method. However it is a quick counter measure that is proven to kill such subjects as zombies and Hunters.
"What are Hunters?" asked Sarah
"You won't meet them – no point in adding to the horror" shrugged Joshua. "I think they used the Gas here –it might have affected things downstairs – it certainly made Plant 21 grow if it nearly reached the surface in that shaft Mr. X took a dip in"
Leon had a nasty feeling Joshua was right – it welled up in his stomach, marching up to the back of his throat. The chances were that the things downstairs…would be worse.
Joshua walked over to a console and turned a small lever from the red point to the blue one. "There we go" he smiled. "Power's up" the dim lights strengthened and became more vibrant. Slowly they headed for the elevators again, by passing the glowing amber smelting pit – the smell of molten metal stung their nostrils and they hurried back to the hall.
A shot rang out, it nearly hit Sarah but she'd been a centimeter to the left of it and simply cried out in shock. Annette aimed her magnum again. "Spies" she hissed, her breathing ragged and exhaustion obvious on her face. "You're here for the G-Virus" she growled.
"Annette" Joshua stepped forwards. "That's not true – put the gun down we need your help!" A shot hit the floor inches from his feet.
"You've been taken in Joshua" Annette snarled, a mad glint in her cold eyes. "You wouldn't be working with spies otherwise…that girl, Ada Wong. I did a background Check. She works for the Hale-Fallon Corporation – she's part of The Agency and she's here for samples of the G-Virus".
"That's not true!" Leon exclaimed, outraged and afraid. Of Ada being in danger. Of Annette being right.
Annette laughed scornfully and waved the vial at them. "No one will take William's legacy! NO ONE!" she raised her gun.
The vent burst open.
Marvin
Marvin held Sherry in his arms – she was shivering and whimpering. Claire removed her jacket as Ben held the door to the small side office. It's door was reinforced steel and it was lined with the stuff inside. Marvin lay Sherry onto a small bed in the corner. Claire put her waistcoat over Sherry.
"Claire…it hurts…"Sherry choked out, her eyes fluttering open and shut as she breathed heavily. "Where's…Joshua?"
"He's coming" Claire replied. "It's going to be okay…my angel always looks after me, it'll look after you." She smiled softly. Sherry gave and groan and turned onto her side.
Marvin, Ben and Claire walked to the other end of the room. "I'll stay with her" Ben said, he held a shotgun he'd gotten from the corner in his trembling hands. "Find what you need…go"
Marvin nodded, he had a heavy feeling in his heart, it overwhelmed any pain he felt – but he sucked in a deep breath and nodded. "We'll be back soon. You can probably use that PA to get to us" he waved at the communications set up in the corner.
"Yeah, just…go. Save the little girl" Ben said.
Marvin cast a worried glance at the little girl then he and Claire ran from the office. Down the metal corridor, the sounds of the heavy locks bolting echoed after them from the room Ben was in.
The dim hallways were infested with only a few zombies; their flesh was mostly peeled away though others were dressed in suits and lab coats. It was blatantly obvious they were the scientists and test subjects.
Across a steel bridge over a dark abyss they ran until they reached a central room. The smell of smoke and burnt out electronics ran through the air. Claire walked over to the metal lock in the middle of the area and kneeled down. "It's burnt out" she stated. "We need a new fuse for this thing"
"Okay, new fuse" nodded Marvin. He reloaded his gun. "Let's do it then – which way?"
Claire picked a corridor and they ran. The doors hissed open. Marvin ran forwards.
Pitch black, sticky, putrid flesh slipping and sliding off its body the clawed monster attacked with a gasping hiss. Marvin raised his gun but the tongue lashed his shoulder. Claire fired.
Her grenade launcher hit the monster and set it alight. She aimed her pistol and fired down with Marvin's aid. The monster thrashed and then – was still – crimson blood seeping out around its form.
"That's a licker…but what happened to it?" Claire mused. "Its jet black!" shaking his head Marvin wrinkled his nose at the chemical smell that filled the air. They moved down the hallway. A researcher lay crushed between hydraulic doors.
Beyond the sound of feasting could be heard. Shuddering Claire looked at Marvin, he was tending his slash wound with herbs and gauze. She stepped forwards. Marvin caught her wrist. "Hey! Hang on – we go together" she smiled at him and he beamed back.
Together they entered the cold room. The zombies forgot the crushed researcher and lumbered forwards, four doctors and two skinless ones – they fell under a hail of bullets.
"Look" Claire pointed to a machine marked as "Fuse Maintenance Station" she hurried over and started to press buttons.
"Do you know what you're doing?" asked Marvin.
"Yeah, I've been doing computer and technology classes all my life – Dad owned an Electronics Store". A hydraulic arm whirred and the fuse was slotted into a casing. Then the new product was placed in a steel box.
"What…damn!" Claire cursed. A keycard slot was flickering and the fuse was trapped beyond a glass panel the slot seemed to open. Marvin cleared his throat and held up a green card. "Where'd that come from?"
Marvin pointed to a body. "Caught my eye" he explained as she slipped the card in. The slot opened. They backtracked quickly and Marvin inserted the fuse as Claire set up the system.
Lights grew far below, rising up with gathering intensity until at last the rooms were fully lit. "Let's go save Sherry" Claire said.
With a decisive nod Marvin followed her.
Joshua
A few obsenities rolled off Joshua's lips as the burned and blistered Mr. X straightened up from his landing. He'd come from a shaft, bursting through it with no sign of injury. Annette turned and ran as Mr. X stunned her enemies.
Joshua squeezed the bridge of his nose and raised his guns. "Damn it you SOB why don't you fucking DIE?" he blasted with his pistols, joined by the others.
Sarah shrieked and dived aside, past the monster as it swung at her. "Elevator!" shouted Leon. Joshua shoved Leon aside and leapt away, the fist shattered the wall.
"It's engaged by the nutcase!" screamed Sarah as she gave assistance from down the hall. "Wait! It's on Floor 76A!"
"That's above us – it's where the train ends, all the floors below that are testing rooms or – die bastard – administrative…some are housing. Hit the button!" Joshua called. Mr. X grabbed him and hoisted him up, thick meaty fingers wrapped around his throat.
Leon was knocked backwards. Joshua struggled as his air supply was cut off – he couldn't breathe so that was bad…and the grip was tightening…Joshua gave a roar and pried the fingers apart with a crack that made Mr. X back off. There was a Ping. Leon swept around and unloaded both barrels of his shotgun into Mr.X's chest. The tyrant stumbled backwards.
"GO!" Leon roared as he shoved Joshua towards the elevator and fired. Panicked and desperate they dived in as Sarah shut the doors. The elevator moved towards 76A.
"Damn I hate him" gasped Joshua.
Claire
The hallway was populated by nothing. It was still and silent. A reception desk sat in the white marble lobby. Un-bloodied. Nothing festering on it… slowly Marvin and Claire walked towards the lab.
"What's waiting for you out there?" asked Marvin.
"My brother – Chris. The one I came to find. He was a STARS member"
"Yah I know…"
"Well. I was hoping he'd still be here – he could handle this. He taught me how to shoot and everything" she smiled softly. A door opened and a zombie lumbered forwards. Claire blasted it in the head without hesitation. "I miss him"
"We should'a listened to the STARS. But Irons told us it was because of their redundancy they made up the genetic testing stuff" Marvin shook his head in disgust and anger. "Why did we listen to that sick SOB?"
"Because you trusted him" Claire said gently. A door hissed open and they walked into the lab, blood and bullet holes slipped down the side of a desk. "This is where Birkin was shot."
"Yes - William"
Claire jumped. Annette was in the doorway – she had her gun trained on them. "You tried to kill William" she spat. "How DARE you!"
"He attacked us!" snapped Marvin.
"QUIET!" sneered Annette with vehemence. Her pistol was waving about, between Claire and Marvin – choosing its target. Independent of the insane woman holding it. "You're like all the rest…after the G-Virus. YOU CAN'T HAVE IT! It's William's legacy…"
"What about Sherry?"
Annette shuddered, her arm slowly seemed to tip with the weight of the gun. "It's…no. I…"
A roar rang out. Rejuvenated once more Annete whirled around, her lab coat fluttering. "William!" she cried with intense relief and joy. She ran away. Claire called out her name but seconds later there was a scream of WILLLLLLIIIIIAAAAAAMMMMMMMM and then silence.
Marvin and Claire raced towards the hall.
Lying in a pool of blood, her body slashed and breath rattling in her chest…Annette Birkin was fading from life. "What about…the legacy"
"There's Sherry…but she's been infected with a G-Embryo" Claire said calmly, kneeling down beside the woman. "Please – you're the only one who knows how to save her…"
"Take my…card and notes…activate the Angel vaccine in lab 5560HJ on this…floor" gasped the woman. "Tell Sherry – Her father- her father and – and I will…always… love her"
With a cough blood spluttered over Annette's lips and her head rolled to one side…she lay still and unmoving.
"Damn" whispered Marvin.
Claire stood up swiftly, focusing her mind on the objectives at hand and remembering what she needed to do, the Green Keycard and notes from the woman's pockets in her satchel she ran down the hall with Marvin in tow.
TBC
Well there we go another one bites the dust, about 3 more left, in the next chapter - well things get complicated for just about everyone and more people meet grisly ends. And does anyone wonder what's happening to Joshua? Probably not - but this is only the beginning! Wooo!